The Strange And Persistent Psychological Distance Between Us And Climate Disaster

11 Mar 2026 | Abstracted from Anthropocene Magazine

People consistently underestimate climate risks because disasters feel psychologically distant - happening to "others," in other places, or in the future. This distance weakens motivation to act, even as extreme events grow more frequent. Researchers argue that making climate impacts feel immediate, personal, and local is essential to overcoming this mental gap and driving meaningful public engagement.

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